ViewSonic ViewPad 10e has a 10-inch IPS screen to show off Gingerbread

In its latest entry into the tablet market, ViewSonic seems to be doing everything right. The ViewPad 10e (an update to the previous model) has a 9.7-inch, 1024 x 768 IPS display that should please just about everybody, a 1GHz processor, ample expansion jacks including HDMI, MicroSD and a standard MicroUSB port. It’s got a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera for video chat, and if ViewSonic’s previous Android tablets are anything to go by, the Wi-Fi slate should be priced to move as well.


But wait, why does a Honeycomb tablet need capacitive buttons on the front? Oh, right. The ViewPad 10e is running Gingerbread, much like other non-Google-blessed Android tablets out there. That means you won’t get access to the Android Market or apps like Gmail and YouTube, either. ViewSonic is nice enough to include the Amazon Kindle app, their custom ViewScene 3D user interface and the 1Mobile Apps Store for your software needs.

Other specs include a spacious 5400 mAh battery, 4GB of on-board storage, a microphone (not always a given) and  Bluetooth 3.0. The tablet will be able to output 720p video, but that might put the single-core processor and 512Mb of memory to the test. ViewSonic is claiming an impressive 200 hours of standby battery life from the 9.1mm device, which should make e-readers happy. No pricing or availability has been announced, but expect it in Europe soon with a possible North American release to follow.

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Lenovo A1 7″ Gingerbread tablet just $199, available now

Lenovo is all set to start shipping their newest tablet offering. The Lenovo A1 Android 2.3 Gingerbread tablet with a 7″ display and powerful 1.0 Ghz processor. First spied way back in July, it was officially announced at the beginning of September coming in with 4 awesome color options available, we have all the details below.

The Lenovo IdeaPad A1 is an affordable 7″ Android 2.3 Tab. It will feature a TI OMAP 3622 Cortex A8 1.0 Ghz single-core processor, a 5 MP rear and 2.0 front facing camera. Coming in at 11.9mm thin (0.46 inch), and weighing just 400g. Lenovo is using a magnesium alloy roll-cage internal frame design to keep the tablet strong, yet thin,light and affordable. The 7″ LED display will have a 1024 x 600 resolution similar to the Galaxy Tab 7 and offers a great visual experience.

Starting at just $199 the IdeaPad A1 comes in 4 bright colors shown above. We have 2GB of internal storage for just $199, then all available colors are being offered with 16GB storage for just $249. This may not be a powerhouse Honeycomb tablet, but for the price you have a pretty well rounded Gingerbread tablet that is portable and should fit many users budget. My only concern is the $199 dual-core Kindle Fire might have something to say here, just a thought. Although we do have dual cameras and full Google support on the A1, rather than Amazon’s ecosystem they’ve been building with the Fire.
For full details on the Lenovo A1 tablet head over to Lenovo.com, for a more detailed breakdown on colors and pricing you can click here. They are available for order right now and will begin shipping October 27th.
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Pandigital SuperNova confirmed, 8-inch Gingerbread tablet for $229

It’s positively raining cheap wifi tablets lately. The big brother to the original Pandigital Nova is the SuperNova, and after munching down a Super Mushroom it’s upgraded to an 8-inch capacitive display. Unfortunately, the resolution is still a rather disappointing 800 x 600 in a 4:3 aspect ratio. The budget tablet should hit retailers soon at a price of $229.

Other hardware details include a 1Ghz single-core processor, an onboard micro-HDMI port and Bluetooth 2.1. Internal storage is 4GB with a free MicroSD slot for expansion. Pandigital doesn’t have Google’s blessing for any of their tablet offerings, so users will have to make do with the GetJar alternative app store. A few built-in apps like Barnes & Noble’s ebook store, YouTube and Adobe Flash help spruce up the Gingerbread operating system before owners download anything new. According to Pandigital’s press release, the SuperNova will be available in mid-October at retail locations across the US.
Slightly larger screen notwithstanding, it’s hard to see why anyone would pick up a SuperNova over any of its close competitors. If you’re looking for a cheap, hack-friendly tablet, the Barnes & Noble Nook Color is just $20 more (or even less if you play your cards right) and the solid HTC Flyer now provides a full Gingerbread tablet with access to the Android Market for $299. If you’re dead-set on a cheap tablet and you’ve got some spare patience, Amazon’s Kindle Fire will release in just over a month for only $199.

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Casio G’zOne Commando rugged smartphone gets Gingerbread

Oh yea, who remembers the Casio G’zOne Commando smartphone over on Verizon? This rugged smartphone can handle any situation and today it’s getting even better, the Commando is all set for the Android 2.3 Gingerbread update making it both durable, and up to date.

The Casio G’zOne Commando was announced back in April and for those using it I’ve heard it’s quite the phone for what you get. Basically this is a construction workers best friend. Today however, Verizon’s delivered build C771M070 bringing it up to Android 2.3 Gingerbread and with it comes a few bug fixes.
– Screen will brighten upon touch when phone is docked during a voice call.
– Proximity Sensor accurately senses presence during a voice call.
– Auto signature can be enabled within SMS/MMS messages.
– Device will no longer generate a draft message when opening a message.
– Privacy Caution screen will now appear during Setup Wizard. + V CAST Media Manager now comes preloaded.
– Reduced device lag.
Along with business users now being able to auto add signatures to SMS and MMS text messages we also have a fix for the wacky proximity sensor, a lag fix, and a few other important bugs have been squashed with those steel toed boots. Oh and you now will have full access to that awesome bloatware we call V CAST too, fun.
If you’ve been having any issues or just waiting for the update it should be hitting handsets any time now. Feel free to manually check for updates by going to settings > about phone > and check for updates to get started with the goodness we all call Gingerbread.

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2.3 Gingerbread now on almost 40% of Android devices

Google announced the latest software breakdown for Android today (what, you didn’t think there was only one announcement going on, did you?) and the numbers are promising. 38.7% of devices running Android are using version 2.3, “Gingerbread”, the latest smartphone version officially supported by Google. For what’s probably the first time this year, less than half of the Android userbase is running on Froyo.

That isn’t a particularly encouraging figure, but at least more and more carriers and manufacturers are releasing phones with the latest version of Android available. Since this summer it’s been unusual to see a new product announced with anything except Gingerbread or Honeycomb running on its silicon, a promising sign that both consumers and manufacturers are beginning to expect up-to-date software to match the hardware. Unfortunately, with the exception of Nexus-class phones, older devices are still rarely upgraded to more than one major Android version past their release date.
The third-largest chunk of the userbase is running Android 2.1, at just under 12%. That’s a relevant figure, since 2.1 users are far more likely to run into app compatibility issues than 2.2 users. Honeycomb, Google’s official tablet version of Android, is still only running on 1.6% of devices more than six months after the debut of the Motorola XOOM. There’s no two ways about it: Android is getting whipped in the tablet market. Here’s hoping that the upcoming Ice Cream Sandwich will fix at least some of these woes by unifying the latest version of Android on both slates and phones – however long that takes.
[via ReadWriteWeb]

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Panasonic LUMIX Phone 101P pairs a powerful camera with Android 2.3 Gingerbread

This week, Japanese carrier Softbank unveiled a number of smartphones that it will be carrying in the near future, and the Panasonic LUMIX Phone 101P is one of the them. The LUMIX Phone 101P borrows heavily from Panasonic's experience with its LUMIX line of digital cameras, and pairs some powerful optics with Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
If you were to imagine a pocket-sized point-and-shoot digital camera with an Android smartphone grafted onto the back of it, that is pretty much the LUMIX Phone 101P in a nutshell. The front of the phone features a 4-inch, qHD (540 x 960 pixel) touchscreen and the usual menu, home, and back buttons for Android. The phone is powered by a dual-core, 1GHz TI OMAP processor, and it includes support for Japanese digital TV service.
Looking at the camera side of things, we find a 13.2 megapixel CMOS LUMIX sensor with Panasonic's "Mobile Venus Engine" for image processing. The camera is autofocus and appears to sport a xenon flash unit. Unfortunately, Softbank has not provided details about the LUMIX Phone 101P's video recording abilities, but we would be very surprised if some sort of HD recording wasn't included. The phone is waterproof and it manages to keep trim dimensions despite its powerful shooting abilities. The 101P measures 123mm x 64mm x 9.8mm (4.84in x 2.52in x 0.39in) and weighs 128g (4.5oz).
Softbank will be offering the Panasonic LUMIX Phone 101P in November. Exact pricing has yet to be announced, and there is no word of plans to bring the phone to global markets. Q4CTHNYTGCK9 [via TechCrunch]

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Sprint Puts The Kibosh On Buggy LG Optimus S Gingerbread Update

Two weeks ago we told you how Sprint users were finally about to get some Gingerbread for their LG Optimus S handsets, just a few weeks after the update became available for the international Optimus One. Things were looking good, and we noted "assuming nothing goes wrong and forces it to halt distribution, it should hit nearly every subscriber with an Optimus S within about ten days." Oh, how we should have knocked on wood! It turns out that the update has been wreaking havoc on the Optimus S, breaking so much functionality that Sprint's withdrawn the update.

Sprint acknowledges the problem on its forums, promising that it and LG were working on diagnosing the issues and assuring users that the halt on the update's distribution is only temporary; once things are worked out, the Optimus S will finish getting Gingerbread.

So, what's going wrong? Oh, just a few small problems like an inability to get online, your PC not recognizing the phone when plugged-in over USB, refusal to recognize the presence of microSD cards, and finding itself in a state where it will no longer recharge while powered-on, eventually running the battery down to nothing. Predictive text is also turning-up broken, but compared to the rest of these issues, it seems positively minor. There are some suggested fixes for these individual issues, but no word on when an update addressing all of them may become available.

Source: Sprint
Via: Phandroid

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HTC thunderbolt Gingerbread update rolling out now

Well, right after they confirmed that it was coming this month then releasing the changelog, HTC and Verizon have just rolled out the Gingerbread update for the HTC Thunderbolt, finally! This much needed software bump will bring many enhancements and bugs fixes to Verizon’s first ever 4G LTE-capable phone. If you haven’t gotten the prompt yet, we suggest that you manually look for it by going to Settings > Software Update > Check New. Your Thunderbolt Android OS version will change to Android 2.3.4.
Let us know how you like it!

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The HTC Thunderbolt Gingerbread update changelog has been posted

The changelog for the HTC Thunderbolt Gingerbread update has been posted. Besides finally getting Gingerbread on the first 4G LTE device from Verizon, the update also fixes a number of issues and brings on new features and enhancements. Let’s hope that Verizon keeps their promise to update the Thunderbolt with Gingerbread this month.
Check out the new features, enhancements, and bug fixes that will come your way via the Gingerbread update:

enhancements:

• Download Manager App: New App to manage all of your downloads from web browsing, email attachments and other apps.
• App and Power Management Details:Under Manage Applications, a new “Running” tab displays a list of active applications and the storage and memory being used by each. Power efficiency mode option has also been added under Settings > Power.
• New Desktop User Interface: New widgets, icons and screens with refreshed colors.
• Dock Icons:Static Phone, App Launcher and Contacts icons are replaced within a customizable dock. Three swappable icons and the App Launcher icon are fixed to the Dock at the bottom of all home screen panels for easy and instant access

Additional device features:

• Alarm notifications will no longer appear while in Emergency Mode.
• Improved data connectivity.
• Improved audio quality while using Bluetooth®.
• Decreased wait time when saving audio attachments.
• V CAST Tones now comes preloaded.
• New Google Books app.
• Enhanced UI for data roaming.
• SMS messages send to correct recipient.
• Reduced Force Close errors while using TuneWiki.
• Reduced Force Close errors when using the front camera.
• Audio on BT Car Kit no longer reroutes to phone when receiving a SMS message.

Source: Verizon Wireless

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HTC Thunderbolt Gingerbread update still scheduled for this month

It is not a secret that many HTC Thunderbolt owners are getting antsy about having their phones updated with Gingerbread. Many software leaks have been spotted in the wild but weren’t really official which means that the normal phone user wouldn’t have been able to install them because they’ll have to root their phones. HTC promised that the both the HTC incredible and Thunderbolt will get Android 2.3 during September, and so far only the Dinc had the honors.
A Twitter user going under the handle @treybarnes66 asked HTC about when he will be able to get Gingerbread on his Thunderbolt. They replied with the following statement: “Yes, it’s still scheduled for this month. Thank you for your patience, Trey.” So there you have it, the update is still on its way and we will know for sure in four days.
Source @HTC
via Phonedog

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Samsung Galaxy S 4G and Infuse 4G Gingerbread Leak Available

For those lucky among you who own a Galaxy S 4G or an Infuse 4G, a Gingerbread, 2.3.5 ROM has been released for your downloading pleasure. While this isn’t necessarily an official update by any means, it does suggest that an official update may come in the near future. But for those of you with one of these rooted beauties, the wait is no longer over.

Of course, for those of you who don’t have rooted devices, this may not be the update you were looking for. The instructions for installing the leaked ROM files are quite simple however, assuming that you already have Odin installed on your computer. And as per usual, Mac users have been left in the dark as Odin is solely windows-only.
You can find both ROM files over at Samfiremare. From there, the instructions are relatively simple. Simply extract the .tar files with the password samfirmware.com and click “PDA” from within Odin and select the new md5 that you extracted. Then, from there, it’s as simple as plugging in your device in download mode by holding both volume buttons with the device off, and plugging it into your computer. Odin should be able to handle everything else from there.

[via Everything Android]

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LG Esteem Leaks – Brings Gingerbread and LTE to MetroPCS

Found on a LG Partner portal, the LG Esteem has been confirmed for MetroPCS. The device will run on MetroPCS’ 3G/LTE network. It will also be running Android 2.3 Gingerbread on board as well. Though MetroPCS doesn’t sell its devices on discount with contracts, it is also reported that the device will sell for $349 with a $100 mail-in-rebate.

Apart from the inclusion of LTE, the device’s specs are a little low key compared to the other Android powerhouses on the market, but seem sizable to MetroPCS’ existing lineup. The LG Esteem features a 1Ghz Snapdragon processor, with 512MB of RAM and 8GB of on-board storage. The LCD display is 4.3 inches with a 720p enabled, 5 megapixel camera on the back. The device also features a front facing 1.3 megapixel camera for video chat as well.
MetroPCS had also recently announced that they would be developing 3G service over their existing EV-DO network. The company made bold moves by initially skipping over developing a 3G network in support of quickly building its LTE network. For reasons that they haven’t specified quite yet, MetroPCS had recently announced that they would be upgrading approximately 30% of its EV-DO towers for Rev. A support.
[via AndroidCentral]

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Download: New Gingerbread Build for the HTC Thunderbolt

The folks at Android Police have leaked a Gingerbread build for the HTC Thunderbolt It’s version 2.11.605.2, but as always we’re unsure as to what’s different between this and any previous leaks. We do know that it keeps users on HTC Sense 2.1, but that was to be expected. This is an unrooted RUU file, meaning rooted users may want to wait until developers of their favorite ROMs incorporate the update. For those who aren’t rooted and want to give it a shot, be sure to download the file here and follow the instructions below.

• Rename the file to “PG05IMG.zip” (without quotes)
• Drop it on the root of your SD Card
• Turn off your device
• Hold Volume Down + Power to reboot into the bootloader — the file should automatically be detected and the flashing process will begin.
• Wait for your device to complete the process and reboot

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Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo Receives Android 2.3.4

The Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo has received its Android 2.3.4 update. It brings with it the new version of Google Talk with video chat support, but Sony Ericsson has also sprinkled more desirable goods into the folks. We get a Swype-like keyboard, a panoramic photo option in camera, screen capture and enhancements to their Facebook integration. This one’s going out in Nordic countries right now but we can’t imagine it will take long to make its way to other regions. Sony Ericsson is expected to complete rollout to all regions in October. [Xperia Blog]

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Samsung Infuse 4G Receives Maintenance Update, Still No Gingerbread

Though owners of the Samsung Infuse 4G are itching for the promised Android 2.3 update for their AT&T handsets, a maintenance release has been pushed to the smartphone. The 14.5MB file provides bug fixes primarily, though it likely also comes to make the necessary preparations for the move from Froyo to Gingerbread. That is supposed to happen sometime this month, though the exact timing isn’t quite known.
[via AndroidCentral]

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LG Optimus S Gets Android 2.3 Update

Won’t be long before Froyo is obsolete. Sprint has released Android 2.3 for the LG Optimus S (which, if you didn’t know, is their version of the LG Optimus One). Sprint’s version of the phone is a slightly modified version of stock Android so you can expect the stock Gingerbread look that has really grown on a lot of people. Find the list of changes below and grab instructions on how to pull the update down here. [Sprint via AC]

LG Optimus S Software Update – Android 2.3 (LS670ZVH)

Enhancements/Fixes:
- Volume adjustment from handset when backlight is off and in a Bluetooth call
- Initiation of a 3-way call in certain markets
- Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
- Updated color scheme (includesdarker notification bar and black-based menus)
- New on-screen keyboard (supports multi-touch input and a  smart auto-correction function)
- Improved cut-paste functionality
- New integrated download application for ease in accessing downloaded files
- Updated camera application
- Power management and task killer applications

Important Notes:
- The new software version is: LS670ZVH
- Released in stages with 100% of devices having received the update within 10 days
- Refer to the LG Optimus S Software Update blog for install instructions

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US Cellular HTC Merge Customers Receive Gingerbread

Gingerbread is all over the place lately, it seems. US Cellular has delivered the upgrade to owners of the oft-forgotten HTC Merge Unfortunately it does appear you may need a Windows PC to apply this yourself as it requires HTC Sync, but be sure to call your local US Cellular location to see if they can do it for you in-store. If you are able to do it yourself, head over to their site to get started with the instructions and download. [via AP]

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Samsung Droid Charge Gingerbread Update Now Available

When Samsung released the Droid Charge 4G Android smartphone on Verizon’s LTE (Long Term Evolution) mobile broadband network, the operating system employed out-of-the-box was Google’s 2.2 Froyo OS. This drew some raised eyebrows, since Samsung had other phones on the marketplace released in advance of the Droid Charge 4G which employed the upgraded Android operating system, Gingerbread 2.3.
Instant speculation was that there were some software bugs which would not integrate the Droid Charge 4G favorably with the improved Gingerbread operating system. That has been addressed, and the Google Android operating system beta upgrade from Froyo to Gingerbread is now available for all Samsung Droid Charge 4G owners
No big press release or announcement was made, and it is important to note that this Google operating system update is an upgrade, but it is not the final, finished Samsung update we have been expecting. However, any upgrade from the Froyo 2.2 OS which experienced several bugs and was not near as smooth as the Gingerbread OS is welcome. So for those Samsung Droid Charge owners out there anxious to get a taste of Gingerbread in your mouth, the download is ready, and when the finalized Gingerbread update is available for download, you will receive a notification on your handset.

With a wide array of second generation 4G handsets hitting the market, the first generation 4G Samsung Droid Charge Android smartphone has wisely been reduced to a one penny retail price with two-year activation by Verizon on their LTE network. Samsung’s acclaimed Super AMOLED Plus display technology is on board, and provides 480 x 800 resolution graphics on the 4.3 inch screen, and supports multitouch gestures. A light sensor and a proximity sensor are also integrated into the display technology.

A single core 1.0 GHz Hummingbird processor, 8 megapixel rear facing camcorder which provides video capture in 720P high definition, 1.3 front facing camera for video chat and video call access, microSD and microUSB slots and HDMI wired and DLNA wireless video out round out the Droid Charge feature set. Continuous talk time from a single battery charge on the Droid Charge is an above average 11 hours. The 4G smartphone average is 8 hours, so evidently the Samsung Droid Charge is appropriately named.

Samsung did not release a date for their final Gingerbread over the air update, but this beta version is available immediately for those Samsung Droid Charge owners with a Gingerbread sweet tooth.

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HTC Thunderbolt To Receive Android 2.3 Gingerbread in September

The HTC Thunderbolt was the first phone to arrive on Verizon’s 4G LTE (Long term evolution) mobile broadband network, and immediately posted record-breaking speeds, making the Thunderbolt and Verizon’s “LTE” household names for tech-loving smartphone shoppers. And while the HTC’s Thunderbolt was and still is a very fast phone, out-of-the-box the Android 2.2 Froyo operating system was sort of outmatched with the powerful HTC Thunderbolt’s speed and features.


Never fear, Gingerbread is here! Google has been partnering with smartphone manufacturers and wireless service providers and offering free over the air updates in the form of the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system recently, and the HTC Thunderbolt is the next phone to benefit from this free OS upgrade.
The exact dates for the Google operating system upgrade were not revealed, but generally companies roll out the upgrades in a staggered manner to ensure trouble-free downloads and to be able to quickly react to any customer input regarding any bugs or snafus.

If the HTC Thunderbolt 4G Gingerbread update is anything like the updates from Froyo to the Android 2.3 OS that have been taking place recently, Android’s 2.3.4 operating system version is the new software that will be rolled out. Verizon has confirmed that there is an operating system upgrade coming in the month of September, but would provide no more details. Usually, these updates are handled via a notification text to the user’s handset. Then the mobile handset operator simply has to follow a couple of prompts, all very non-technical, and the new software is downloaded.

If you own an HTC Thunderbolt 4G Android smartphone and you have not received a notification about an upgrade to the Gingerbread operating system by the middle of the month, check back here for more information, as we will be updating as soon as we receive any new info.  Buy the HTC Thunderbolt 4g starting at one penny.

The recent Android operating system upgrade to several first-generation 4G smartphones similar to the HTC Thunderbolt has resulted in smarter performance, which requires less power, thus translating to more talk and browser time on a single battery charge, as well as individual updates cater to the specific smartphone device.

The HTC Thunderbolt is currently offered at a retail price of one penny on Verizon’s 4G LTE network with a two year activation. The Thunderbolt employs a single core 1.0 GHz Snapdragon processor, and delivers 480 x 800 pixel resolution on its 4.3 inch capacitive touchscreen which supports multitouch gestures. Dual camcorders and full Adobe Flash media player support are also on board.

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Verizon Catalog Lists HTC Thunderbolt With Android 2.3 Gingerbread – OTA Update Coming Soon

Looks like Verizon is already listing the HTC Thunderbolt as coming equipped with Android 2.3 Gingerbread in their upcoming fall catalog. The catalog should be arriving in stores any day now and with only a few more weeks left in September, we’re getting closer to that deadline HTC promised us about back in August. T-Bolt users shouldn’t have to wait much longer for their Gingerbread treats. Hang tight.
[Via Droid-Life]

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